Research finds surgery may not be needed for children with appendicitis

Dr. Richard Keijzer discusses the research he’s taking part in on treatments for children with appendicitis.

One Manitoban was part of a team of international researchers that found surgery may not be necessary when a child has appendicitis.

Pediatric surgeon and researcher Dr. Richard Keijzer explained appendicitis is when there’s a blockage in the appendix that causes bacteria to accumulate, creating an infection.

Typically, when a child has appendicitis, their appendix would be removed. However, Keijzer and his fellow researchers studied utilizing intravenous antibiotics instead.

“If you could keep your appendix then you could potentially benefit from it by holding on to it,” he said in an interview with CTV Morning Live Winnipeg on Tuesday.

“The other thing would be, if you could prevent having surgery, which is also associated with small risks, then you’re not exposed to those risks.”

Keijzer said 936 patients were involved in the research. Half of them were treated with antibiotics while the other half were treated with an appendectomy.

Researchers found that appendicitis returned and surgery was required in 30 per cent of the cases treated with antibiotics alone. However, for two-thirds of the patients, antibiotics were sufficient.

“For parents and patients now, there is an option to discuss if you don’t want to take the risk of surgery. Then in some cases, it’s possible just to treat it with antibiotics,” he said.

The appendix is a small organ of the large intestine. Keijzer noted it was previously thought to be a useless organ, but now is believed to play a role in immunity and is also a source of healthy bacteria in the gut.

Keijzer said HSC Children’s Hospital, where he works, sees about 350 patients every year for appendicitis.

- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé